JOHOR BAHRU: Authorities demolished 11 illegal houses in Kebun Teh on October 15 after discovering they were built on cemetery reserve land in a malaria-prone area.
Larkin assemblyman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah revealed that Immigration Department information showed most houses were occupied by undocumented migrants.
“We found that these undocumented migrants extended their homes until it became a settlement that was unexpectedly large,“ he told a press conference at the squatter site.
More than 100 individuals were arrested during the operation conducted on the hazardous settlement.
Johor State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon also attended the site inspection.
Mohd Hairi, who chairs Johor’s Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Committee, confirmed another 36 houses would be demolished.
He said occupants, including locals, had been given 30 days to vacate their premises after the original two-week notice proved insufficient.
The extension came after meetings with residents’ association representatives who requested more time for relocation.
Mohd Hairi stated the state government is working toward making Johor a squatter-free state by relocating residents to new settlements.
“This is also part of our restructuring effort to ensure residents live in better areas,“ he added.
Demolition actions will extend throughout the Larkin area where 1,422 squatter houses have been identified.
Affected areas include Kampung Melayu Majidee, Taman Sinaran Kempas, Kebun Teh and Kampung Sri Paya. – Bernama
